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I find that the best way for me to finish a side project (for some definition of "finish") is to work on something that I want to use. Sometimes my motivation will flag for a few months until I want to use it; then the motivation kicks in and I'm productive while I improve/fix the project to make it work better for me.
At least for myself, I found it detrimental to set milestones that were based in features. The main reason was I'd rush to finish a feature, get all excited about shipping it in "only 1 week!", then tell myself I deserved a week off. That week turns into a month, then you lose mental context. What I found key was making it a habit to work on it. Side projects, especially solo ones, take a long time to complete. If wo…
I've found myself stuck in that endless cycle for years. I find myself highly motivated for the first few weeks, thinking about a future where I can work on this full time. As the project shapes up, I lose interest and start to doubt my idea, wondering why people would ever pay for this. Eventually I work on it less and less until one day I decide to not work on it anymore.
To get people to pay for anything is usually a different side project. If you can't see the path to profit no one probably will pay. Find people who will pay and use that as motivation and product guidance.
I find that the best way for me to finish a side project (for some definition of "finish") is to work on something that I want to use. Sometimes my motivation will flag for a few months until I want to use it; then the motivation kicks in and I'm productive while I improve/fix the project to make it work better for me.
This is probably the best way to keep "motivation" up... and why I don't even start side projects. All of my "itches" can be scratched with existing products.
So many products I use only get me 80% of the way there and I find myself wanting to make my own version.
>Unexpected life events. Like a world-changing pandemic and riots? I'll be honest, it is getting hard to focus on building my cute little software bullshit project when a voice in the back of my head is telling me to spend my time prepping for social collapse.
During the dot-bomb implosion in 2000, most people threw their hands-up. Even VCs threw in the towel and moved from Calif. to southern states with no state income tax. (The metaphor was, "they're rolling up the sidewalks in Palo Alto.)
To this day, business people look at the start date of some of my projects and say things like, "Wow, you started a project in 2000?" Then they go mum since they realize what a silly thing that was to say.
Business and life are cyclical. Since it takes 7-10 years for a startup to mature, the passing of crises has very little effect in the early stages of a startup.
Now is the perfect time to do a startup or project.
It also gives you an in built audience to launch with who will use it - rather than launching to a loud thud of silence - which sucks and feels like the long dark night of the soul.
I find that the best way for me to finish a side project (for some definition of "finish") is to work on something that I want to use. Sometimes my motivation will flag for a few months until I want to use it; then the motivation kicks in and I'm productive while I improve/fix the project to make it work better for me.
>Unexpected life events. Like a world-changing pandemic and riots? I'll be honest, it is getting hard to focus on building my cute little software bullshit project when a voice in the back of my head is telling me to spend my time prepping for social collapse.
Sand storms so large they are blocking the sun in the US.
Radiation forest fires in Russia.
Ufo's existance were confirmed by US navy.
Stock market crash / rapid recovery
What's next...
I've found the #1 trick to finishing a side project is to build it out in the open by writing a blog (or podcast) about it and building up an audience who are interested in seeing you finish it as you go along. It also gives you an in built audience to launch with who will use it - rather than launching to a loud thud of silence - which sucks and feels like the long dark night of the soul.
The question seems to be how to keep your project top of mind. Once you're forced to stop working on your project, the context file this post mentions acts like a save point to return your project to top of mind.
I'm sure there are other similar hacks. Maybe review your context file before showering each day?